Abstract/Description

CIP's Seed Unit in Kenya is providing large quantities of minitubers (commercial 'seed' is not true seed) to national potato programmes in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia. This material is being used for one cycle of rapid multiplication and the seed...

Notes

CIP's Seed Unit in Kenya is providing large quantities of minitubers (commercial 'seed' is not true seed) to national potato programmes in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia. This material is being used for one cycle of rapid multiplication and the seed harvested is then being distributed to a small number of carefully selected farmer-multipliers. These farmers must have fields located at high enough elevation to be free of bacterial wilt and virus. Each is expected to multiply the seed at least once. All seed-sized tubers are then stored on-farm and at the next planting season some are replanted for a second generation of multiplication. The remainder is sold to other farmers, who use it to plant crops for the market. For the next season, the farmer-multiplier goes back to the national seed programme for new starter material.
For further information: CIP, PO Box 25171, Nairobi, KENYA